NDA 2023 Exam Pattern is set by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). This is a national level entrance examination that is organised for the candidate to join any of the wings which include the Indian army, Indian navy, and Indian Air Force. The candidate has to qualify in the written exam, interview round and physical test to join in any of the wings. The candidate can check the complete article to know more about the NDA exam pattern 2023.
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NDA 2027 Latest Update as on 12 Sep 2026
Contains
Checked on 12 Sep 2026
As of 12 Sep 2026, UPSC has not yet released the official NDA 2027 notification; registration is tentatively expected to open in December 2026 for NDA I 2027, conducted by UPSC.
| Exam | NDA 2027 |
|---|---|
| Status | NDA I 2027 notification expected around 2 Dec 2026 (last year NDA I 2026 notification: ~11 Dec 2025 — based on pattern) |
| Next expected | NDA I 2027 registration expected to open around 2 Dec 2026 (discovery signal hints at this date; not officially confirmed) |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
| Last verified | 12 Sep 2026 |
As of 12 September 2026, UPSC has not released any official notification for NDA 2027. The official UPSC website (upsc.gov.in) currently carries no NDA 2027 announcement; the most recent UPSC activity relates to IES/ISS 2026 results and the Commission's ongoing Centenary Year events. The NDA 2027 exam pattern and syllabus are governed by the last officially published norms: a two-paper written test (Mathematics 300 marks, General Ability Test 600 marks) followed by an SSB interview. No changes to this pattern have been confirmed. Based on previous-year cycles, the NDA I 2027 notification is tentatively expected around December 2026, with the exam likely in April 2027 — though UPSC has not confirmed these dates. Students preparing for NDA 2027 syllabus should follow the existing Mathematics and GAT syllabi, monitor upsc.gov.in for the official notification, and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria (age 16.5–19.5 years, Class 12 pass).
- NDA I 2027 notification expected around 2 Dec 2026 (last year NDA I 2026 notification: ~11 Dec 2025 — based on pattern)
- NDA I 2027 registration expected to open around 2 Dec 2026 (discovery signal hints at this date; not officially confirmed)
- NDA I 2027 exam tentatively expected on 11 Apr 2027 (per discovery signal; not officially confirmed by UPSC)
- NDA II 2027 notification expected around Jul–Aug 2027 (last year NDA II 2026: ~Jun–Jul 2026 — based on pattern)
- NDA II 2027 exam tentatively expected around Sep 2027 (based on previous-year pattern; not confirmed)
- Official UPSC NDA 2027 calendar expected to be published on upsc.gov.in — students should bookmark it
Sources: UPSC Official Website
NDA 2023 Exam Pattern
Negative Marking:
- 0.83 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer in the Mathematics section.
- 1.33 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer in the GAT section.
Language of Question Paper:
- The question paper will be available in English and Hindi.
Official Notification:
The official notification for NDA 2023 has not been released yet. However, you can stay updated on the latest news and updates by visiting the UPSC website: https://upsc.gov.in/
| Exam | Paper | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA | Mathematics | 120 | 300 | 2.5 hours |
| NDA | General Ability Test (GAT) | 150 | 600 | 2.5 hours |
NDA 2023 Exam Pattern
The candidate can check here the complete exam pattern for NDA (I) which is given in the list below: Candidates can check the complete NDA 1 2023 paper pattern mentioned below:
| Examination Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper Test) mode on OMR sheets |
| Total Questions Papers | There will be two question papers which are:
|
| Type of Questions | Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Maximum Marks | Maximum marks will be 900 Marks |
| Examination Duration | 2.5 Hours (150 Mins) for each Paper |
| Medium of Examination | The question papers will be in two languages: English and Hindi |
Subject Wise Marks Distribution
Major Changes This Year
No changes to the NDA 2027 exam pattern, syllabus, or eligibility have been officially announced yet; the existing pattern and syllabus are expected to continue unchanged.
No major change has been officially announced yet for NDA 2027 in terms of exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, or eligibility criteria. UPSC has not issued any corrigendum or notice indicating a revision to the NDA examination structure. Based on the established pattern, the written exam is expected to retain two papers — Mathematics (120 questions, 300 marks) and General Ability Test (150 questions, 600 marks) — with a negative marking of one-third of marks per wrong answer. Any changes would be communicated only through the official NDA 2027 notification on upsc.gov.in, which is tentatively expected around December 2026.
The candidate can check the subject wise marks distribution in the given table below:
| Subject | Subject Code | Marks | Duration |
| Mathematics | 01 | 300 | 2.5 Hours (150 Mins) |
| General Ability Test | 02 | 600 | 2.5 Hours (150 Mins) |
| Total | 900 | 5 Hours (300mins) |
Marks Distribution in Paper- II: General Ability Test
| Part | Topic | Marks |
| Part A | English | 200 |
| Part B | General Knowledge | 400 |
| Total | 600 |
Marking Scheme
The candidate must check the marking scheme of the NDA examination so they answer the questions wisely. The marking scheme for the NDA entrance examination is given in the table below:
| Marking Criteria | Marks Awarded |
| For Every Incorrect Answer | -1/3 (0.33) Marks |
| For Every Unanswered Question | 0 Marks |
Note: If any candidate answered any question with more than one answer, then that answer will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers will be correct or not and the marks will be deducted for that answer.
Interview Round Marks distribution
The candidates who qualified the written test will be notified for the interview round. The candidates can check the marks distribution for the interview round which is given below:
| Exam | Marks |
| Written Exam | 900 |
| Interview Round | 900 |
| Total | 1800 |
NDA (I) 2023 Interview Round
The qualified candidate has to clear the interview round also to get the joining in NDA. The interview round is Intelligence and Personality Test round. The round will be conducted in two stages. The candidate can check both the interview stages pattern in the list below:
| Stage I | This is a comprises of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests which is a Picture Perception and Description Test (PP & DT). The candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of the combination of performance in OIR Test and PP&DT tests. |
| Stage II | This is a Comprises of Interview, Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks and the Conference. These tests will be conducted for over 4 days. |
Note:
- All the candidates have to qualify the Psychological Aptitude Test and Intelligence Test.
- The qualified candidates in both stages will be eligible for the further procedure of joining.
NDA 2023 Syllabus
The candidates can check NDA syllabus and exam pattern for the question of entrance test which is given in the list below:
| Paper | Topics | Subtopics |
| Paper (I) | Mathematics |
|
| Paper (II) | General Ability Test |
|
Important Instructions for National Defence Academy (NDA) 2023 Exam
The candidates must follow all the instructions during the examination which is given in the list below:
Permitted articles inside Examination Hall:
- Hardboard or cardboard (make sure nothing will be written on the board)
- A Black/Ball Pen for marking responses on the OMR Answer Sheet.
- Answer Sheet and Rough sheet for extra work will be supplied by the exam invigilator.
Restricted Things Inside Examination Hall:
- Candidates must not bring any unwanted things with them into the Examination Hall which are given below:
- Books
- Notes
- Loose sheets
- Electronic
- Any Type of Calculators
- Mathematical and Drawing instruments
- Log Tables
- Stencils of maps
- Slide rules
- Test Booklets
- Rough sheets etc.
- The candidates can’t carry any communication devices into the examination hall which are given below:
- Mobiles
- Phones
- Bluetooth
- pagers
- Or any other communication devices
Penalty for Wrong Answers:
- If any candidate answered any question with more than one answer, then that answer will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of the given answers will be correct or not and the marks will be deducted for that answer.
- If a question is left blank or the candidate didn’t answer the question then there will be no marks will deduct as a penalty for that question.
Unfair Means Strictly Prohibited:
- The candidate must not copy from the papers of any other candidate.
- Must not permit his papers to be copied by any other candidate
- Not to try to give or attempt to give or obtain or attempt to obtain irregular assistance of any description in the examination.
Conduct in Examination Hall :
- The candidate is advised that they don’t misbehave in any kind of manner or create any noise or disorder;y scene in the exam hall.
- If the candidate any misbehave in the examination hall then the authority have the power to cancel the examination of that candidate.
NDA (I) Entrance Exam
UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) conducts the NDA (National Defence Academy) exam twice in a year – one in April which is known as NDA (I) and the other one in conducted in November which is known as NDA (II). The exam will be conducted through the offline mode on the OMR sheets. The candidate has to qualify the written test and interview round to get the joining any of the Wings through NDA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has UPSC officially released the NDA 2027 notification?
No. As of 12 Sep 2026, UPSC has not released any official NDA 2027 notification. It is tentatively expected around December 2026 based on previous-year patterns.
What is the expected exam date for NDA I 2027?
NDA I 2027 exam is tentatively expected on 11 April 2027 based on unconfirmed discovery signals and previous-year patterns. UPSC has not officially confirmed this date.
Has the NDA 2027 syllabus changed?
No official change to the NDA 2027 syllabus has been announced. Students should prepare using the existing Mathematics and General Ability Test syllabus until UPSC officially notifies otherwise.
What is the NDA 2027 exam pattern and marking scheme?
Based on the existing (last officially published) pattern: Paper I — Mathematics (120 Qs, 300 marks); Paper II — GAT (150 Qs, 600 marks). Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer. No official change confirmed for 2027.
When will NDA 2027 registration open?
NDA I 2027 registration is tentatively expected to open around 2 December 2026. This is based on discovery signals and previous-year patterns — UPSC has not officially confirmed this date yet.
Who conducts the NDA 2027 exam?
The NDA (National Defence Academy) exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Official updates are published on upsc.gov.in.
What is the eligibility age for NDA 2027?
Based on previous years, candidates born between approximately July 2008 and July 2011 may be eligible for NDA I 2027. Exact dates will be confirmed in the official notification on upsc.gov.in.
Where can I find the official NDA 2027 notification and syllabus?
All official NDA 2027 updates, including the notification, syllabus, and exam schedule, will be published on upsc.gov.in. No official notification has been released as of 12 Sep 2026.